Sri Sumangala College

Coordinates: 6°42′31″N 79°54′53″E / 6.70861°N 79.91472°E / 6.70861; 79.91472

Sri Sumangala College, in Panadura, Sri Lanka, was founded on March 3, 1909 at Rankoth Viharaya in memory of Ven.Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero, who played an important role in Sri Lankan Buddhism.^[1] It is one of the oldest schools in the country. It is a national school, i.e., it is controlled by the central government as opposed to the Provincial Council. It is one of the largest Buddhist school in Sri Lanka, with a student population of 4000 over 13 Grades.

History

In the year 1911 when this school was registered as an Assisted School there were 325 students on roll.^[1] The first Principal was Mr. Thomas E. Gunarathne.^[1]

The land for the school was donated by the Rankoth Viharaya while the buildings were constructed out of public funds. The school was managed by a Board of Management and funds for the running of the school were met by philanthropists and the general public.^[1]

Due to the rapid expansion of the College the Rankoth Viharaya premises become congested and there was the necessacity to re-locate the College. The Manager of the Board of Management tried to relocate to Walaw Waththa in 1942,^[2] where Sri Sumangala College is presently located. When this failed, the management decided to shift the college to Nalluruwa. The first old boy of the college, Walter Salgado, donated the land for the main buildings and M. C. Fernando donated about 2 1/2 acres to be used as the playground of the college.

The main hall of the building complex was donated by Leo Fernando; Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories were donated by P. C. H. Dias and the main building and the class rooms were built with public donations.

All the classes from grade six upwards were taken to Nalluruwa new buildings on 7 August 1942. Grades 3,4 and 5 were continued at the Rankoth Viharaya premises and it was popularly called Town Branch of the college. The principal or the Head of this section was A. C. Morawaka who served the college until his retirement.

With the transfer of the college to Nalluruwa it become one of the leading educational institutions where laboratory facilities were available for the students to do science subjects in the medium of English .^[3] Advance level students of the Sri Sumangala Girls School used the laboratories in the afternoons to do their practicals. The plot of land between the main college and the play ground was eventually acquired by the Education Department.

In 1961 a large number of schools were taken over by the government and Town Branch was registered as a separate school with a principal being appointed by the Education Department. A precedent was created to admit all the children who leave Town Branch after they passed the Grade Five test. In 1992 due to inclement weather the retaining wall of the Rankoth Viharaya collapsed damaging the main hall of the Town Branch. The school had to be kept closed for a few months. The Old Boys Association, parents and well wishers constructed 18 semi-permanent class rooms and the Town Branch was amalgamated to the main college.

On May 25, 1993 the College was declared a "National School" by the Ministry of Education.

On the 26th of December 2004 the Tsunami which destroyed the southern and eastern coastal ares damaged part of the semi-permanent buildings of the college. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck during a school vacation so no injuries were recorded.

All together 182 schools were damaged by the Tsunami. Out of these damaged school the government has decided to re-locate 98 school including Sri Sumangala College. Donor partner JICA^[3][4] has granted a sum Rs.330 million to build a completely new school with all the modern facilities.^[2]

It is a coincidence of fate that the Sri Sumangala College has to be moved to a location five decades later that the Board of Management had initially planned on in 1942, before finally settling for the site in Nalluruwa.^[2]

Founders

• Ven. Gnanawimalathissa Maha Thero (lived in Panadura Rankoth Viharaya )
• Ven. Walpita Gunarathana Thissabidana Amarapura Maha Nikaye Thero

Houses

Sri Sumangala College has 4 houses. The houses are named after kings of Sri Lanka. The houses are:

Alumni

Notable former students of Sri Sumangala College (known as Old Sumangalians), include:^[5][6]

• W. D. Amaradeva – (music director, vocalist, musical composer)
• Premasiri Khemadasa – (music director, composer)
• Don Anurasiri – (Sri Lanka cricketer)
• Dilruwan Perera – (Sri Lanka Cricketer)
• Indika Gallage – (Sri Lanka cricketer)
• Kithuruwan Vithanage – (Sri Lanka cricketer)
• Kaushal Silva – (Sri Lanka Cricketer)

Principals

Following is a list of past Principals of the Sri Sumangala College;

Sports

• Cricket
• Swimming
• Hockey
• Athletics
• Volleyball
• Table Tennis
• Badminton
• Karate
• Chess
• Boxing
• Rugby
• Vushu.

Scouts

Sri Sumangala College Scout group is in the Panadura-Horana Scout district and is one of the leading groups on the island. It was the first Scout group started in Panadura-Horana Scout district.^[3] Currently, there are 60 Scouts and 100 Cub Scouts.

References

External links

• Government Web site of Sri Sumangala College
• Old Boys' Association of Sri Sumangala College - SSCOBA
• Junior Old Boys Association of Sri Sumangala College - SSCJOBA
• Old Sumangalians Scout Association'